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Couple spent $16,000 on lottery last year, but it paid off

Debra Talley, 54, and Domenic Morabito, 70, who live in Southport, hold a check for $100,000 they won playing the North Carolina Education Lottery. Behind them is the vehicle they purchased with part of the winnings.

Published: Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 1:19 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 1:19 a.m.

Domenic Morabito and Debra Talley play their numbers in the various lottery drawings almost every day.

Last year, on the way to dinner, the couple went to Kerr Drug on North Howe Street in Southport. On the Friday before Labor Day weekend, something told Talley to buy a Super Lucky 7s scratch-off ticket. But when the clerk told her it would cost $5, she declined. Talley is frugal and she wasn't about to spend $5 on it, so she asked Morabito to get one for her.

He bought two tickets.

What happened next was pure luck, or if you ask Talley, divine intervention.

As they drove off, Talley scratched the tickets. She won $10 on the first one, but when Talley scratched Morabito's ticket, it came up as a $100,000 winner. After state and federal taxes were withheld, the couple were awarded $68,001.

Morabito and Talley's winnings are only a fraction of the more than $44 million won by players in Brunswick County. But the couple, who have been together for 13 years, say they've become celebrities around Southport. News of their winnings attracted congratulations and requests for money from friends and family.

But the 54-year-old Talley still seems to enjoy telling the story of how she started to scream at Morabito to pull over. He pulled into the Southport Grill parking lot and Talley jumped out of the car, jumping around and carrying on.

Morabito, a 70-year-old from Boston, tried to get Talley to calm down and get back in the car.

“There was a lot of excitement on the side of that road,” Morabito said. “It was a scene, for sure. If somebody came by, they were going to think I'm trying to kill her.”

The next day, the couple purchased a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox with the winnings. They also paid off bills, donated to their church, and took a couple of trips, including Talley's dream birthday trip to the Holy Land Experience, a Christian theme park in Orlando, Fla.

“I believe God was in it,” Talley said.

Winning the lottery was a blessing, but the couple didn't win enough to stop working. Morabito still works, getting up around 4:30 in the morning to bake biscuits at Bojangles' Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits.

Talley is between jobs, but all of the couple's bills are paid. They said that alone was a weight lifted off their shoulders.

But winning hasn't staunched the couple's need to play. Instead, it has only made them play more. Between them, they spent $16,000 last year on lottery tickets.

“If it happens once, it can happen again,” Talley said. “You have to play to win.”

<p>Domenic Morabito and Debra Talley play their numbers in the various lottery drawings almost every day.</p><p>Last year, on the way to dinner, the couple went to Kerr Drug on North Howe Street in Southport. On the Friday before Labor Day weekend, something told Talley to buy a Super Lucky 7s scratch-off ticket. But when the clerk told her it would cost $5, she declined. Talley is frugal and she wasn't about to spend $5 on it, so she asked Morabito to get one for her. </p><p>He bought two tickets. </p><p>What happened next was pure luck, or if you ask Talley, divine intervention. </p><p>As they drove off, Talley scratched the tickets. She won $10 on the first one, but when Talley scratched Morabito's ticket, it came up as a $100,000 winner. After state and federal taxes were withheld, the couple were awarded $68,001. </p><p>Morabito and Talley's winnings are only a fraction of the more than $44 million won by players in Brunswick County. But the couple, who have been together for 13 years, say they've become celebrities around Southport. News of their winnings attracted congratulations and requests for money from friends and family. </p><p>But the 54-year-old Talley still seems to enjoy telling the story of how she started to scream at Morabito to pull over. He pulled into the Southport Grill parking lot and Talley jumped out of the car, jumping around and carrying on. </p><p>Morabito, a 70-year-old from Boston, tried to get Talley to calm down and get back in the car.</p><p>“There was a lot of excitement on the side of that road,” Morabito said. “It was a scene, for sure. If somebody came by, they were going to think I'm trying to kill her.”</p><p>The next day, the couple purchased a 2013 Chevrolet Equinox with the winnings. They also paid off bills, donated to their church, and took a couple of trips, including Talley's dream birthday trip to the Holy Land Experience, a Christian theme park in Orlando, Fla.</p><p>“I believe God was in it,” Talley said.</p><p>Winning the lottery was a blessing, but the couple didn't win enough to stop working. Morabito still works, getting up around 4:30 in the morning to bake biscuits at Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits. </p><p>Talley is between jobs, but all of the couple's bills are paid. They said that alone was a weight lifted off their shoulders.</p><p>But winning hasn't staunched the couple's need to play. Instead, it has only made them play more. Between them, they spent $16,000 last year on lottery tickets. </p><p>“If it happens once, it can happen again,” Talley said. “You have to play to win.”</p><p><i></p><p>Kevin Maurer: 343-2339</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @StarNewsKevin</i></p>